In Missouri but not in Misery

The view from our windows at night time.

The penthouse top left is where we spent the last few weeks.

As I mentioned last week, Tom had a job interview scheduled for Monday morning.  Monday morning came and went and he heard not a word, although he left a couple of messages with the HR person who set up the interview.  That night he received an apologetic call and the interview was rescheduled for 8:00 a.m. Tuesday.  The less-than-five-minute interview happened and the man told him he'd get back to him in a month.  It was the kick we needed to get moving.  We finished what we wanted to do in the apartment (polishing, washing bedding and towels, etc.), packed up our personal belongings, and Wednesday morning said good-bye to our beautiful view of the Salt Lake Temple.  We were headed to Missouri. 

But first we went to Grantsville to get some things from our storage units and to (gulp) say good-bye to Brandon, Lisa, Corbin, Morgan, Miralise and Logan.  Since Lisa was born we've never been separated by more than three hours (except for when we were on short trips away from home.)  So it was hard to face the fact that she would not be close any longer.  (I am crying again as I write this.)  But all-too-soon we were on our way to say more good-byes.

Laura, Kalsin and Kodiak were next on our list.  We drove to Bluffdale and enjoyed a few minutes with them.  Eleven months ago they were the ones packing up and leaving us behind.  It wasn't easy then, either, but at least we knew we'd see them occasionally when we went to Utah for business and events.  This time, though, we were headed much farther away.  I surely hope that Lisa and Laura keep sending us photos of their darlings growing up--just like the rest of the family has been doing all the years they have lived so far away from us.

The hardest farewells were in Roosevelt where we hugged our parents and thanked them for all they've done for us and then we went to Vernal to have a few minutes with Michael before he went to bed.  I'm glad he likes to text.  We seem to have an ongoing conversation all the time.  That shrinks the distance between us.

Good-byes over, we checked into a hotel in Vernal to get a few hours of sleep before we started the long drive east.  Tom was able to find his way to dreamland within minutes but I was restless and it took listening to a relaxation recording to get my mind to shut down so I could sleep. 

About two o'clock in the morning there was an odor that woke me and I couldn't sleep any longer.  Not wanting to disturb Tom I just tried to block the smell by covering my head, by turning from one side to the other, by trying to shut my mind and senses off so I could go back to sleep, but nothing worked.  The odor grew stronger and stronger.  I kept thinking about how we were each driving our own vehicles and I needed sleep and worried that I would be too drowsy to drive as far as I needed to.  It was really a very unpleasant morning for me.  Finally, when I felt Tom had slept long enough I got up and showered and then he did and we packed our bags and vacated the place while the hotel manager was still sleeping.  We left a note about the odor, which we wondered, upon investigation, if it might have come from a dead body up in the ceiling.  (If you ever sleep in Vernal, Rodeway Inn is probably just fine, but stay away from room 136!)

Tom and I probably talked more that day than we have the last couple of weeks, because we talked to each other on the phone to stay alert and make sure we didn't lose one another.  Driving through Colorado was a pleasant experience for the most part.  There was beautiful scenery and the traffic was light, road construction minimal.  (I'd like to find out why "No Name, Colorado" was named such.)  (Okay, I found out: http://www.ehow.com/about_5209556_history-name_-colorado.html)
But going over the mountains was stressful for me as it had snowed and the roads were wet and there were warnings of icy conditions.  I was so relieved to get to the other side and to relatively flat roads from Denver on.  Truckers probably all know of the signs on the eastern slopes right before Denver.  First there is one that warns truckers of the steep grade for several miles.  A few miles down there is another sign that tells truckers not to be fooled, that there are still four more miles of steep grade.  The last sign tells them they aren't done yet!  But finally the truckers and I could all relax and enjoy the rest of the drive through Colorado.
http://usends.com/Explore/Truckers/index.html
We stayed in Colby, Kansas, which made us think of all the windy places we've lived.  Then Friday we headed east once more.  Is there anyone who has driven from Kansas into another bordering state who hasn't at least thought Dorothy's line from The Wizard of Oz:  "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore?"  I think it--or say it--every time.

Our grandchildren didn't know that we were going to arrive Friday so we had some fun surprises that afternoon.  We are happy to be able to catch up on how much everyone has grown and learned over the last few months since we last saw them. 

Amy lives three hours from here.  It will be like living in Spring Creek and driving to Grantsville to visit a daughter.  Now it will be Amy instead of Lisa.  And Cindy lives the same distance from here as Katy lives from Salt Lake City.  I will always be missing the ones who are not near me, no matter where I live.  I wish I could spend a week at a time with one set of grandchildren, then move on to the next, and so on, and it would take six weeks to do that and then I could start all over again.  But that is not practical so I will just have to be thankful for the technology that makes it possible for us to stay connected though we are thousands of miles apart.

We don't know if Tom will find work here or not (he does have a job interview with Home Depot later today) but we know we have a home for as long as we need it. And sweet Bella said she was glad we didn't have to pack all of our fun together in just a couple of days. Now we can have fun together every day and stretch it out!

 

Quick update

I need to go to sleep, but I remembered that I had left my blog open so I could make a quick post, so before I shut down my computer and my body I'll tell what I couldn't tell a week ago. I had been summoned for jury duty and had to report last Tuesday. The case was to determine the guilt of a man accused of sexual abuse of a girl under the age of fourteen. I was there for three hours and was fascinated by the process. I was not selected for this jury and am glad to have been spared the awful details of the abuse. The newspaper gave more details than I cared to know. He was found guilty. I hope the young woman heals. I do hope that one day I will be seated on a jury. I would love to be part of the process. The judge last week was so good, and because of things he said and how he said them I am more-than-ever thankful for the jury system.

I hope that all of you are looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

Alone

Tom is in Reno tonight. He had to go meet with some engineers today and tomorrow he is going to a mine in Western Nevada. I have been spending the evening watching shows he wouldn't have been interested in while at the same time exercising, practicing some Spanish phrases, and reading my daughter's blogs. Now I am going to go to sleep so I can get up early. I will tell you about what I am doing tomorrow once tomorrow is over. I don't think I can talk about it yet.

Oh, yeah--before I go, I'll tell you I had an Amy experience. I got a letter following my routine mammogram telling me something was seen that required further screening. Unlike Amy, though, there was nothing on the second mammo. I'm glad Amy's isn't cancerous. I hope it stays that way.

Good-night!

The Meaning of "Soon"

"In the near future." Since the future is always beyond us, then can we ever reach the end of "soon" so we can do what we promised we would do "soon?"

Tonight I am tired but as I opened my blog to get quicker entry to Amy's, Cindy's, and Jessica's blogs, I realized I had "promised" a real entry "soon." That was about five weeks ago. So much has happened in that amount of time that it will take me considerable time to share half of it. Right now I am only going to comment on one thing.

I have become a storm chaser. No, I don't hop in my car and head out on the back roads to see if I can spot a funnel cloud or baseball-size hailstones. I let others do that. I go along for the ride from the comfort of my bedroom. When the tornadoes move through Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, etc., I am glued to the screen. It is not excitement I am seeking. I am watching to see how close the storms come to those I love. And through this I have found how much I deeply love not only my own blood family but my family of human beings.

My heart has been touched tremendously by the tragedies, the losses, the miracles of survival, and the pouring out of love and compassion. I don't know what more I can do besides donate and pray, but I wish I could do more. One of the first things I do after any tragedy--earthquake, tsunami, flood, tornado, etc.--I go the lds.org, find the link to the newsroom, and look for the words I need desperately to read: "All missionaries are safe and accounted for." Somehow reading those words helps me know that the Lord is with all the people, that even though there are deaths and destruction everywhere, He is steering the rescuers, pouring out the compassion, and we as a people become one. There are no more "colors" or "parties"--we are all brothers and sisters, and what one is feeling the others are feeling.

And I begin to count my blessings.

I forgot to mention that my new, lovely background is a gift from my terrific daughter Amy. Thanks, Amy! You make me look good.

Hi!

This is just a teaser. I will post something really worth reading soon. I ordered some new red pumps and a red dress. Spring is in the air!

Corbin's Baptism

Congratulations, Corbin!